Iran, Yemen, Syria, and Iraq launched attacks on Israel on April 13. On Sunday night, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (elite units of the military) announced that it was striking territory in Israel in response to the destruction of the Iranian consulate in Syria by Israeli aircraft in early April.
On April 1, the Israeli Air Force struck the Iranian consulate general building in the Syrian capital, Damascus. The IRGC reported the deaths of seven officers, including two senior generals and advisors: Mohammad Reza Zahedi, the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force in Syria and Lebanon, and his deputy, Brigadier General Mohammad Hadi Hadjirahimi. Tehran stated that it reserves the right to retaliate.
The Iranian attack reportedly involved several dozen to hundreds of missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, including Shahed kamikaze drones.
Iran launched 185 drones and 36 cruise missiles towards Israel in response to the Israeli military strike on the Iranian consulate in Damascus. The New York Times reported this on Saturday, citing Israeli officials.
They claimed that Iran was the primary launcher of most drones, with a smaller percentage coming from Iraq and Yemen. Iran also launched 110 surface-to-surface missiles.
The wave of Iranian strikes on Israel has subsided after lasting for about five hours. CNN reported this, citing sources.
There were no recorded attacks by Iran on US troops or objects in the Middle East. However, US forces have shot down dozens of Iranian missiles heading towards Israel, according to the Reuters agency, citing US officials. “The US military shot down dozens of Iranian missiles heading towards Israel,” the agency’s message says.
According to two senior US officials, the damage to Israel was “relatively limited” given the scale of Iran’s attack, writes The New York Times.
Israeli Army spokesman Daniel Hagari stated that Tehran had used around 200 drones and missiles during its unprecedented direct attack on Israel overnight, but most of them were intercepted before reaching their targets.
A military base suffered minor damage, while a young girl sustained injuries in the southern part of Israel. Air raid sirens sounded across the country.
According to the Israel Emergency Medical Services (MDA), Israeli medics assisted 31 people who suffered severe anxiety or injuries while seeking shelter during the Iranian missile attack.
The statement said that after the night alarm signals, MDA brigades were dispatched to assist approximately 31 people who suffered from anxiety or were on their way to shelters.
The UN Security Council will convene in New York on the evening of April 14 to deliberate on the aftermath of Iran’s attack on Israel. Before the meeting, both governments issued letters accusing each other of breaking international law.
At the same time, Iran stated that it considers the attack on Israel as self-defense, permitted by Article 51 of the UN Charter.
